Surrounding the fetus is the gestational sac, which is filled with fluid. Share on Pinterest Have a nice day Photo/Shutterstock A 7-week ultrasound showing crown rump length of baby, which helps figure out the age of the fetus. So, while it won’t go down in history as one of your favorite experiences, it can’t cause any harm. The good news? There’s no risk to your baby from the procedure and there’s no radiation used. It does take longer, which can add to the overall unpleasantness, but the technicians are trained to make you comfortable - at least, as comfortable as you can be with an ultrasound wand inside in your vaginal canal. You’ll feel about as much pressure as you do during your annual gynecology exam, for comparison. It’s not painful, though it may be uncomfortable. Then, the technician keeps it in place, adjusting the wand as much as needed to get a good look at the inside of your uterus. It sounds less than fun, we admit, and it is a less-than-fun procedure: A technician inserts an ultrasound wand, called a transducer, a few inches into your vagina until it reaches your cervix. Instead, you’ll need a transvaginal ultrasound. (Sorry!) In most cases, your baby is too small to be seen clearly - or at all - on an external abdominal ultrasound. Pop culture has likely taught you that your first ultrasound is a beautiful experience where a technician waves a magic wand over your stomach and you get to stare at a computer screen and see the adorable shape of your baby floating peacefully in your uterus.īut that’s not what happens at a 7-week ultrasound, so let’s just blow that expectation out of the water now. Yes, it could be a worst-case scenario, but it could also just be one where you’re collecting as much info as possible so you can have a healthy pregnancy. So, if your doctor suspects you might have a problem - like uterine fibroids, for example - they may want to have that info right away.Īgain, it isn’t cause for immediate panic if your doctor orders a 7-week ultrasound. Issues with your uterus, cervix, ovaries, or fallopian tubes can cause complications during pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a life threatening condition if it’s not treated, so it’s important to diagnose it. When an embryo implants outside the uterus, you’ll often have pregnancy symptoms and a positive pregnancy test, even though the embryo isn’t viable. If you’ve had any concerning symptoms, like spotting or vaginal bleeding, your doctor will want to know if you’re experiencing a miscarriage or what the cause of any unexplained bleeding could be. Especially if you’ve had fertility treatments, this might be something you want to confirm ASAP. Other reasons for an early ultrasound include: If your pregnancy symptoms don’t match up with your last menstrual period or there’s any confusion about how old your baby is - gestationally speaking - the measurements taken during an early ultrasound can tell your doctor exactly how far along you are in your pregnancy. In fact, the most common reason doctors order ultrasounds before the 12- or 13-week point is to accurately date your pregnancy. Why your doctor might order such an early ultrasoundĪlthough a 7-week ultrasound isn’t routinely performed, there are actually a bunch of reasons why your doctor might want you to have one - and not all of them fall into the “doom and gloom” category.
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